Piano Academy Online

PIANO ACADEMY ONLINE

Piano Academy Online will feature a rich musical experience for students ages 8-18 with a minimum of two years private lesson experience. Students will socialize and learn from each other online through daily group activities such as Q&A sessions, Faculty Performances, Master Classes and more. This program includes many of the exciting aspects of previous years adapted for a virtual experience. The week will culminate in an online recital including live and/or pre-recorded performances. (Note: Adult guidance and technology support may be required for younger students)

Students will rotate throughout small sessions each day that will include:

Two 30-minute private virtual lessons per student per week.

One hour of monitored individual practice time

Live and Pre-recorded Lectures on special topics such as music theory, music history, and more!

Michelle Richardson holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from George Mason University where she studied with Dr. Anna Balakerskaia. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree, continuing her studies with Dr. Balakerskaia. Ms. Richardson is a sought after soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist in the Metro D.C. Area. Highlights of her solo and chamber performances include her solo debut with the George Mason Symphony Orchestra playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, chamber recitals at the Lyceum in Alexandria, the “Music with the Angels” Concert series at the Church of the Holy City, Fairfax County “Spotlight on the Arts” festival, as well as at George Mason’s All-Steinway Concerts and ARTS By George series. In the summer of 2010, Ms. Richardson was invited to attend the Orfeo International Music Festival in Vipiteno, Italy. There, she was featured on multiple programs as a soloist and was a finalist in the Orfeo International Music Competition. In May of 2013, Ms. Richardson was a featured soloist in the GMU School of Music Honors Recital. Additionally, she is a frequent performer in area churches including Community of Faith United Methodist Church, Leesburg Community Church, Galilee United Methodist Church, and Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church. She is also a sought after accompanist for local recitals and student solo events.

In addition to her performing, Ms. Richardson has been an active teacher in the area for the last eight years. Along with her performance bachelor’s degree, she completed all the coursework toward a music education degree. In August of 2015, she was faculty on the Corcoran Chamber Music Institute (formerly known as the Summer Piano and Chamber Music Institute at George Washington University). She currently is adjunct faculty at George Mason University where she teaches keyboard classes throughout the year. She also is an active faculty member at the Mason Community Arts Academy at George Mason University, where she teaches at summer piano programs, group classes, and maintains a large piano studio of all ages throughout the year. She is experienced teaching all levels of piano and has prepared students for successful auditions to their top choice music schools with scholarships.

Born in Ukraine, Misha Tumanov started his musical education in Costa Rica at the Instituto Superior de Artes and the Pre-College Program of the National University, studying with Dr. Alexandr Sklioutovsky. After Mr. Tumanov graduated with honors from the National University at age seventeen, he continued his studies with Dr. Ray Kilburn at Ball State University, receiving a Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma in piano performance. Currently, Mr. Tumanov is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Maryland, under Dr. Larissa Dedova, where he is recording works of the early Soviet Avant-garde, including Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Myaskovsky, Feinberg, and Roslavets.

Mr. Tumanov has taught in the DC area since 2010. Previously, he taught at the National University of Costa Rica, the Instituto Superior de Artes, and Ball State (both private lessons and group classes). Mr. Tumanov has also taught group classes at George Mason University and the University of Maryland. He has been often invited back to Costa Rica to work with students preparing for competitions and major performances, most notably the International Competition of Slav Music 2009 and 2010, where the students received two Second Prizes and one Third Prize. Mr. Tumanov’s students have performed at the Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, as well as prominent local venues.

Mr. Tumanov’s experience as a teacher ranges from 4 year-old beginners to advanced adults. Mr. Tumanov is passionate about guiding his students to find their own artistic voice and discovering the joy of music.

Mr. Tumanov has participated in masterclasses with such distinguished pianists and teachers as Gyorgy Sandor, Alexander Braginsky, Alexander Kobrin, Jerome Rose, and Jonathan Biss. In 2006 he released a CD featuring works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, and Rachmaninov.

Mr. Tumanov is a frequent performer at festivals and conferences, both as a solo and collaborative pianist, including the International Double Reed Society conference, MTNA, Piano Technicians Guild, and Orfeo Music Festival in Italy. He has been a featured soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the National and Youth Symphony Orchestras of Costa Rica, as well as the Ball State Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Tumanov has won numerous awards and competitions, including second place at the East-Central Division of the MTNA National Competition, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale, and 1st Prize at the Pinault International Competition in New York.

In addition, Mr. Tumanov is the pianist/organist and Concert Series Coordinator at the United Christian Parish in Reston, VA.

Instructor: Faith ZúñigaAcademy Teaching ArtistRead about Ms. Zúñiga

Faith Zúñiga has a thriving private studio at Mason Community Arts Academy. Two of her students won prizes in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition in 2016 and performed at Carnegie Hall. Ten of her students recently won the highest ratings at the 2016 NVMTA Spring Festival, the largest piano event in Fairfax County. Her students have also won the Academy Spotlight Auditions and performed at the Fairfax Town Hall. She is active as an adjucator and has judged competitions such as the Robert & Frances Allen Young Artist Competition, the NVMTA Spring Festival, and the Academy Spotlight Auditions. Ms. Zúñiga was also on the faculty of the inaugural Mason Summer Piano Camp in 2016. She is an enthusiastic teacher and loves inspiring her students to play their best!

Ms. Zúñiga performed Prokofiev Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven Concerto No. 5 with the Mason Symphony Orchestra in 2014. She was a 1st Prize winner in the 2014 George Mason University Concerto Competition. She also won 1st Place in the 2013 UIUC Clara Rolland Undergraduate Piano Competition. Additional competition awards include Semifinalist in the Victor Elmaleh Concert Artists Guild Competition, Semifinalist in the Byrd International Piano Competition, and 2nd Place in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition.

Ms. Zúñiga took part in the inaugural edition of the Valencia International Piano Academy in Spain, where she studied with teachers from Juilliard, Peabody, and the Madrid Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia. A native of Illinois, Faith has performed in Costa Rica, Italy, Spain, and the United States.

Ms. Zúñiga is a Doctor of Musical Arts student at George Mason University, where she studies with Dr. Anna Balakerskaia and teaches as a Graduate Lecturer. She has studied at the Conservatory of East Central Illinois; the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan; the Instituto Superior de Artes in San Jose, Costa Rica; the Conservatorio Benedetto Marcello in Venice, Italy; the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Indiana University at South Bend.